Empowering Communities for Better Health: HopeCore's CHV Program Expands to Tharaka North
HopeCore's CHV program began with the Mother-to-Mother Project in 2016, followed by the CHV project in 2018, and expanded to 206 CHVs by 2019. In 2020, 676 CHVs were trained on COVID-19, and flipbooks were used to provide key messages. The flipbook approach was adopted for training technical modules and was implemented in Mwimbi, Muthambi, Chuka, and Igambang’ombe sub-counties, expanding to Tharaka South in 2022. The CHVs have been trained on various topics, including primary eyecare, sexual & gender-based violence, diabetes, sanitation, child maternal & neonatal care, community nutrition, tuberculosis and pneumonia, water & hygiene, family planning, and hypertension.
HopeCore has recently extended its CHV program to Tharaka North sub-county to enhance community access to essential healthcare services. The project empowers 200 CHVs to provide health information to 9000 households in the sub-county, a vast area with poor infrastructure. This situation makes it challenging to reach remote areas, hindering the delivery of healthcare services and supplies and leaving many without adequate medical attention.
The region also has a high incidence of infectious diseases such as kala-azar and chronic illnesses that can strain the already limited healthcare resources. Furthermore, cultural beliefs, such as those held by Kabonokia sect members who reject modern medicine, may present significant challenges in delivering effective healthcare services. However, training CHVs can be crucial in overcoming these healthcare challenges.
Over the next three years, HopeCore plans to train 200 CHVs in Tharaka North on specific health topics from technical modules. In addition, they will carry out 13 flipbook campaigns on a selected health topic and provide coaching and supervisory services twice a year to improve the CHVs' knowledge and skills. The program aims to provide health information to 9,000 households in Tharaka North after each flipbook campaign.
The CHV program has successfully enhanced community access to crucial health services by equipping CHVs with health information and offering coaching and supervisory services. Through the community members involved in these initiatives, HopeCore empowers communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to improve their health and quality of life. With the program's expansion in Tharaka North, more individuals will have access to health education and information, resulting in better health outcomes for the community.
The CHV program has had a significant impact by improving community access to essential health services, empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources to improve their health and quality of life, and with its expansion in Tharaka North, more people will have access to health education and information, resulting in better health outcomes throughout the entire region.
